A Very Cool Fight...
And Results!
(The results of our fundraiser are at the bottom of this email!)
(so feel free to scroll down to see what do-gooders we are...)
For today's martial arts related stuff, I would like to share the following short fight with you... since there is both something to learn, and a wonderfully nasty knockout at the end of it.
After counting carefully, I would like to report that there was one single punch thrown in this fight.
Just one... and the rest of it was all kicks.
Now, you might be thinking to yourself, "Well... these guys just like kicking. Surely a boxer would be able to punch them around a little bit."
Maybe. But historically, that assessment would be inaccurate.
Boxing takes place at a different distance, and this is beautifully illustrated by Peter Aerts in a completely different fight.
As Aerts throws looooong straight punches that barely reach the boxer, his kicks still land deep on the legs, body, and head.
Boxers often find themselves getting pelted with kicks, long before they get within their own comfortable punching range. Kicks are just longer...
This, in addition to being unfamiliar with kick defense, is usually the kiss of death in the boxer vs. kickboxer match.
In that first fight, you're seeing two different versions of the "Kick Game" at distance. One fighter is going for both outside leg kicks (using his front leg), and inside leg kicks (using his rear leg).
He's playing a long game, trying to debilitate the other fighter's front leg.
The other guy goes hard to the body, and then hard to the head... ala CroCop.
...which is a much shorter strategy if those head kicks find a home.
(One of them definitely found a home).
Nevertheless, when you're looking at Glory Kickboxing matches, you're truly watching the uppermost echelon of striking in the world.
Obviously, Glory doesn't include takedowns... but sometimes it's important to isolate the "best" striking, and then modify it for whatever application you're training for.
And that's all I have to say about that.
...which included nothing even remotely humorous.
Perhaps I'm losing my touch.
For our fundraiser:
On Day 1: We raised $2,152 for Northern Virginia Food Rescue
(This was 100% of everything we sold on Day 1.)
Day 2: We matched that amount to raise $2,152 for "Toys for Tots"
Day 3. Matched again to raise $2,152 for LifeWire, a group that helps those experiencing domestic violence.
Overall, we raised $6,456 for fantastic causes. More than 900 meals were given to those in need, a massive pile of toys were given to less fortunate kids, and perhaps we saved a few lives from domestic abuse.
I am proud of us. Those who contributed will get emails over the next few days expressing my gratitude.
Have a fantastic weekend!
-Trav